THE HALL OF FAME
I recently attended the NFL Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony in Canton, OH. My cousin Eddie DeBartolo was being inducted for his ownership of the San Francisco Forty-Niners helping to lead them to five Super Bowl championships. It was a great night for our family. It was a great honor to be included in the Hall of Fame. Eddie talked about how important creating a family environment was to the team’s incredible success.
The night included other inductees like Brett Favre and Tony Dungy. Both men acknowledged Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Dungy quoted Matthew 16:26, “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.” He said it was his mother Cleomae who taught him that verse and he never forgot it. He also spoke about God’s plan for his life and how he found success in spite of several disappointments.
Every new inductee from Kevin Green to Marvin Harrison was so thankful to the many people who helped them to reach the pinnacle of professional football. Parents, coaches, teachers and friends were mentioned as crucial to success for these men who have received the highest football honor. The entire night was so uplifting and special. Even if you don’t like football you could not miss being impacted by the ceremony.
The whole time my thoughts were about how great it is to be in a hall of fame. I love halls of fame. I enjoy learning about greatness and hearing about people who were excellent. I have visited many both big and small: tennis, volleyball, golf, basketball, racing, baseball and many more. Plus, my oldest son Matt was born in Springfield, MA home of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
But the reality is there is a hall of fame that any Christ follower can be in. It is the “Faith Hall of Fame.” Hebrews 11 tells us about the heroes of the Faith who are now with God. We read about the lives of these great Old Testament believers whose faith made them pleasing to God. They trusted in the promises of God. Their faith is what got them in the Faith Hall of Fame and their example is worth following.
You should read the entire chapter and learn about the great faith of these men and women. Verse 39 sums it up “All of them pleased God because of their faith!” Our goal should be to have the same kind of faith our ancestors had. There can be no greater honor than to be included in God’s hall of fame. If we live our lives walking in faith and obedience, someday we too can end up in the Faith Hall of Fame.
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